The Role of Mindfulness in Predicting Pre-Competition Anxiety And Rumination

Müsabaka Öncesi Kaygı ve Ruminasyonun Yordanmasında Bilinçli Farkındalığın Rolü

Umut SEVİLMİŞ, Handenur AKKÖSE, Ülfet ERBAŞ, Fatma Filiz ÇOLAKOĞLU, Ayla Rezvan REHA

Correspondence: Umut Sevilmiş umut.sevilmis@kilis.edu.tr

¹Kilis 7 Aralık Üniversitesi, Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi, Kilis, Türkiye ORCID: 0000-0003-2874-3871, E-mail: umut.sevilmis@kilis.edu.tr

²Gazi Üniversitesi, Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi, Ankara, Türkiye ORCID: 0000-0002-1236-8668, E-mail: handeaakkose@gmail.com

³Şırnak Üniversitesi, Beden Eğitimi ve Spor Yüksekokulu, Şırnak, Türkiye ORCID: 0000-0002-6507-3046, E-mail: ulfeterbas@gmail.com

⁴Gazi Üniversitesi, Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi, Ankara, Türkiye ORCID: 0000-0002-0635-7583, E-mail: ffiliz@gazi.edu.tr

⁵İstanbul Aydın Üniversitesi, Spor Bilimleri Fakültesi, İstanbul, Türkiye ORCID: 0000-0003-2683-2502, E-mail: aylarezvanreha@aydin.edu.tr

Doi: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23713747

https://www.ijoss.org/Archive/v3-i3/ijoss-Volume3-issue3-17.pdf

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Received / Gönderim: 30.06.2026 Accepted / Kabul: 31.08.2026 Published / Yayın: 25.10.2026

Öz

Bu araştırmanın amacı, Ankara Eryaman Türkiye Olimpiyat Hazırlık Merkezi’nde (TOHM) aktif olarak müsabakalara hazırlanan elit sporcuların bilinçli farkındalık, spor müsabakası ruminasyonu ve müsabaka öncesi kaygı düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkileri incelemek ve bilinçli farkındalık alt boyutlarının bu psikolojik yapılar üzerindeki yordayıcı rolünü değerlendirmektir. Araştırma, ilişkisel tarama modeli kapsamında yürütülmüş ve çalışmaya farklı branşlardan 130 elit sporcu gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. Veriler Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Sporcu Bilinçli Farkındalık Ölçeği, Spor Müsabakası Ruminasyon Ölçeği ve Spor Kaygı Ölçeği-2 aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde tanımlayıcı istatistikler, bağımsız örneklem t-testi, tek yönlü varyans analizi (ANOVA), Pearson korelasyon ve çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizlerinden yararlanılmıştır. İstatistiksel yöntemi güçlendirmek amacıyla Durbin-Watson ve Cohen’s f² etki büyüklükleri raporlanmıştır. Araştırma bulguları, kadın sporcuların spor kaygısı toplam puanı ile somatik kaygı, endişe ve konsantrasyon bozukluğu alt boyutlarında erkek sporculara göre anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksek puanlara sahip olduğunu göstermiştir (p < .05). Buna karşın yaş, sporcu kategorisi, sportif başarı derecesi ve psikolojik destek alma durumu değişkenlerine göre anlamlı farklılık saptanmamıştır (p > .05). Pearson korelasyon analizi sonuçları, bilinçli farkındalık ile spor müsabakası ruminasyonu (r = -.203, p < .05) ve müsabaka öncesi kaygı (r = -.215, p < .05) arasında negatif yönlü anlamlı ilişkiler ortaya koymuştur. Yapılan çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizleri, bilinçli farkındalık alt boyutlarının hem müsabaka öncesi kaygıyı (F(3, 126) = 9.909, p = .001, R² = .191, f² = 0.236) hem de müsabaka ruminasyonunu (F(3, 126) = 7.788, p = .001, R² = .156, f² = 0.185) orta ve orta-yüksek etki büyüklüğü ile anlamlı şekilde yordadığını göstermiştir. Alt boyut düzeyinde, Yargılamama (β = -.380, p = .001) ve Yeniden Odaklanma (β = -.264, p = .007) kaygıyı negatif yönlü anlamlı yordamıştır. Ruminasyon modelinde ise Yargılamama negatif (β = -.179, p = .031), Yeniden Odaklanma ise pozitif yönlü (β = .207, p = .039) anlamlı yordayıcı olmuştur. Sonuç olarak, bilinçli farkındalığın özellikle ‘yargısız kabul’ boyutu aracılığıyla sporcuların ruminatif düşünce eğilimlerini ve müsabaka öncesi kaygı düzeylerini azaltmada koruyucu bir işlev gördüğü belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, elit sporcuların performans süreçlerini desteklemek amacıyla alt boyut odaklı bilinçli farkındalık eğitimlerinin spor ortamlarına entegre edilmesinin önemini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Bilinçli Farkındalık, Spor Kaygısı, Spor Müsabakası Ruminasyonu, Elit Sporcu, Performans Psikolojisi

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships among mindfulness, sport competition rumination, and pre-competition anxiety levels of elite athletes actively preparing for competitions at the Ankara Eryaman Turkish Olympic Preparation Center (TOHM), and to evaluate the predictive role of mindfulness dimensions on these psychological constructs. The research was conducted using a relational survey model, and 130 elite athletes from various sports branches participated voluntarily. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Sport Mindfulness Scale, the Sport Competition Rumination Scale, and the Sport Anxiety Scale-2. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression analyses. Durbin-Watson and Cohen’s f² effect sizes were reported to strengthen the statistical methodology. The research findings indicated that female athletes scored significantly higher in total sport anxiety and its sub-dimensions—somatic anxiety, worry, and concentration disruption—compared to male athletes (p<.05). Conversely, no significant differences were observed based on age, athlete category, athletic achievement level, and psychological support status (p>.05). Pearson correlation analyses revealed significant negative relationships between mindfulness, sport competition rumination (r = -.203, p<.05), and pre-competition anxiety (r = -.215, p<.05). Multiple linear regression analyses further demonstrated that mindfulness dimensions significantly predicted both pre-competition anxiety (F(3, 126) = 9.909, p = .001, R² = .191, f² = 0.236) and sport competition rumination (F(3, 126) = 7.788, p = .001, R² = .156, f² = 0.185) with moderate-to-large effect sizes. Specifically, the Non-Judging (β = -.380, p = .001) and Refocusing (β = -.264, p=.007) subscales significantly and negatively predicted sports anxiety. For rumination, Non-Judging served as a significant negative predictor (β = -.179, p = .031), whereas Refocusing positively predicted rumination (β = .207, p = .039). In conclusion, mindfulness serves as a protective psychological resource in reducing athletes’ ruminative thought tendencies and pre-competition anxiety, with non-judgmental acceptance  playing a central protective role. The findings highlight the importance of integrating dimension-specific mindfulness training into applied sports psychology programs to support elite athletes’ psychological resilience.

Keywords: Mindfulness, Sport Anxiety, Sport Competition Rumination, Elite Athlete, Performance Psychology

How to Cite This Article

APA 7

Sevilmiş, U., Akköse, H. N., Erbaş, Ü., Çolakoğlu, F. F., & Reha, A. R. (2026). The role of mindfulness in predicting pre-competition anxiety and rumination. International Journal of Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences (IJOSS), 3(3), 1208–1228.

Vancouver

Sevilmiş U, Akköse HN, Erbaş Ü, Çolakoğlu FF, Reha AR. The role of mindfulness in predicting pre-competition anxiety and rumination. International Journal of Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences (IJOSS). 2026;3(3):1208-1228.

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